Gregor Wenner
Specialist Consultant
LOT 175
1916 Buick Model D-44 Two-door Roadster Chassis no. 196083 Engine no. 204472
Sold for €25,300 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 175
Offered from a Belgian collection
1916 Buick Model D-44 Two-door Roadster
1916 Buick Model D-44 Two-door Roadster
1916 Buick Model D-44 Two-door Roadster
Chassis no. 196083
Engine no. 204472
Chassis no. 196083
Engine no. 204472
• Desirable six-cylinder two-door roadster
• One of only 541 built for export in 1916
• Present ownership since 1979
• Running condition
Inventor David Dunbar Buick built his first automobile in Detroit, Michigan in 1903. More designer than businessman, Buick's lack of talent in the latter role led to numerous changes of ownership in the firm's early years before its founder was eventually eased out in 1908, his departure from the Buick Motor Company coinciding with its establishment as the cornerstone of new owner William C Durant's General Motors. Under Durant's stewardship production rose dramatically from 750 cars in 1905 to 8,802 in 1908 when Buick's most popular model was the four-cylinder Model 10, priced at $900 and a direct competitor for Ford's Model T. The four-cylinder Buicks were replaced by smaller sixes for the 1916 model year; built in four series, the newcomers featuring all-new engines displacing 225ci (3.7 litres). Priced at $985, the D-44 roadster was the most affordable model on offer.
This Model D-44 is believed to have spent most of its life in the USA where the late owner purchased it for his collection in 1979. The Buick was one of his personal favourites and he drove it extensively, including participating in the Laurent Perrier Rally in 1996. The car has been maintained by the collection's dedicated mechanic and starts and runs. Accompanying documentation consists of some old photographs; correspondence with the General Motors Heritage Center confirming the model's identification; and a 1916 Buick reference book and parts list. The registration documents were stolen during the 1990s in Belgium. New registration documents have been requested from the Belgian authorities but currently it does not come with any original registration documents.
• One of only 541 built for export in 1916
• Present ownership since 1979
• Running condition
Inventor David Dunbar Buick built his first automobile in Detroit, Michigan in 1903. More designer than businessman, Buick's lack of talent in the latter role led to numerous changes of ownership in the firm's early years before its founder was eventually eased out in 1908, his departure from the Buick Motor Company coinciding with its establishment as the cornerstone of new owner William C Durant's General Motors. Under Durant's stewardship production rose dramatically from 750 cars in 1905 to 8,802 in 1908 when Buick's most popular model was the four-cylinder Model 10, priced at $900 and a direct competitor for Ford's Model T. The four-cylinder Buicks were replaced by smaller sixes for the 1916 model year; built in four series, the newcomers featuring all-new engines displacing 225ci (3.7 litres). Priced at $985, the D-44 roadster was the most affordable model on offer.
This Model D-44 is believed to have spent most of its life in the USA where the late owner purchased it for his collection in 1979. The Buick was one of his personal favourites and he drove it extensively, including participating in the Laurent Perrier Rally in 1996. The car has been maintained by the collection's dedicated mechanic and starts and runs. Accompanying documentation consists of some old photographs; correspondence with the General Motors Heritage Center confirming the model's identification; and a 1916 Buick reference book and parts list. The registration documents were stolen during the 1990s in Belgium. New registration documents have been requested from the Belgian authorities but currently it does not come with any original registration documents.
Footnotes
En provenance d'une collection belge
1916 Buick Model D-44 roadster deux portes
Châssis n° 196083
Moteur n° 204472
• Séduisant roadster deux portes à moteur six cylindres
• Une des 541 construites pour l'exportation en 1916
• Aux mains de l'actuel propriétaire depuis 1979
• En état de marche
L'ingénieur d'origine écossaise David Dunbar Buick construisit sa première automobile à Detroit, Michigan, en 1903. Plus concepteur qu'homme d'affaire, Buick manquait de savoir-faire dans ce second rôle, une lacune qui occasionna de nombreux changements de propriétaire au cours des premières années de la société, avant que son fondateur n'en soit évincé en 1908, son départ de la Buick Motor Company coïncidant avec l'avènement de la General Motors de son nouveau propriétaire William C. Durant, dont la marque Buick devint la pierre angulaire. Sous la houlette de Durant, la production grimpa de 750 voitures en 1905 à 8 802 en 1908 lorsque le modèle le plus populaire de Buick la quatre cylinder Model 10, vendue 900 $ se retrouva en concurrence directe avec la Model T de Ford. Les Buick quatre cylindres furent remplacées par des six cylindres pour l'année-modèle 1916 dont il fut construit quatre séries dotées d'un nouveau moteur de plus petite cylindrée de 3,7 litres. Affiché à 985 $, le roadster D-44 était le modèle le plus abordable.
On pense que cette Model D-44 a passé la plus grande partie de son existence aux États-Unis, où le défunt propriétaire l'a acquise pour sa collection en 1979. La Buick était l'une de ses préférées et il la conduisait très souvent, participant notamment au rallye Laurent Perrier en 1996. La voiture, qui démarre et roule très bien, a été entretenue par le mécanicien attitré de la collection. La documentation qui l'accompagne comprend quelques photographies anciennes, des lettres échangées avec le General Motors Heritage Center confirmant l'identité du modèle et un catalogue des pièces détachées Buick de 1916 avec leur référence. Les papiers d'immatriculation ont été volés au cours des années 1990 en Belgique. De nouveaux documents ont été demandés aux autorités belges, mais n'ont pas encore été reçus et la voiture est vendue sans ses papiers d'origine.
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